The Transport Ministry explained in a strongly-worded statement yesterday the situation relating to the privatisation of certain car parks in the country, which it denied that it was a privatisation. The tender which was issued has been withdrawn because of the public outcry.

The ‘initiative’ to contractually regulate the management of the public car parks did not originate solely from Transport Malta, the ministry said. It was approved by the Cabinet.

It was not a privatisation process, the ministry argued. Car parks have for years been operated privately and parkers were licensed in such a way that the government could end their operation whenever it wanted, and this was not right. The government wanted to introduce a contract to be awarded after a public call. Payment at car parks has never been regulated.

In spite of what some Labour councillor in Mosta may have been thinking, no local council ever asked the government to devolve to it any of the car parks administered by parkers. And the Labour Party never expressed the idea that local councils should administer car parks which are today administered by the parkers.

The ministry said the argument that the publication of the tender was a surprise, was false and intended to deceive, the ministry said. Labour MPs have over the past two years posed questions in parliament about the stage the parks’ restructuring had reached and showed they were being informed of the detailed talks between Transport Malta and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, which represents the parkers.

It should not be controversial for the government to eliminate the precarious nature under which parkers operated. The Labour Party says it does not want precarious employment but on the first occasion that arose it fought to prolong it.

The socialist instinct of the Labour Party which is radically hostile to private enterprise objects to the government not controlling the prices for parking. The Labour Party still retains the idea that in the economy the government should be everything, and control everything.

None of the objectors to the initiative had ever expressed themselves against, or condemned the only true privatisation of a public car park made to date, which is the privatisation of the park which used to be operated by Ħamrun local council, which was given to private interests, the ministry said.

The car park was inaugurated by Joseph Muscat and was in the hands of Ħamrun council. It was privatised under a call for tenders issued without any consultation, no price was established for users and no measure was taken to ensure free parking for residents.

For the Labour Party and its adherents, what the Labour-run council of Ħamrun can do, cannot be done by the government, the ministry said.

Referring to a news conference by mayors and councillors about the car parks issue, Mosta mayor Shirley Farrugia said the present Mosta council has considered the issue of the garden and play area situated behind Mosta church.

It has always been felt, Dr Farrugia said, that Mosta families deserve an embellished space and the previous council had discussed embellishing the site and issued a tender. The present council continued working on the site and thought to embellish the garden and play area, and create more open space and parking slots. Talks are in hand trying to obtain central government aid.